Does anyone have the total number of units produced for the 68 model year for both the GT/CS or the High Country Special? Reason for asking is that the original owner of my 68 race car talked about at one point in 1969 putting the deck lid and rear end caps on his car but was hesitant due to SCCA and homologation concerns. Would be a neat add to this very historied car that I now have.
Likely is in Newett's most recent book or posted on the registry forum. Not sure why you would consider adding these to a car where you state they were not added only considered if I understand your post.
http://californiaspecial.com/1968-GTCS-features-list.htm
JohnB, Thanks for posting the link, interesting reading.
One thing i don't see in that link on identifying a Gt/CS which i remember being detailed in the original Paul Newitt registry that i had (the paperback one) ,is the unique trunk lid spring that springs the trunk lid open with out having to lift it ,& that it was not available on any other mustang including 68 Shelby's .It's been a while but can someone confirm that piece of info that i seem to have retained form my brief Gt/Cs ownership.
That's interesting because the Shelby decklid will open just fine, no special springs and it uses the same fiberglass?
Yes my convertible has the original spring. When you turn the key you better be holding it down or it will knock you in the head.
Yes Pete this is like Bob is describing it will knock you in the chin as soon as you turn the key ,i remember i bought the Gt/Cs paperback registry before looking for one, & i one i found was missing the marchal or lucus lights so was a little worried it was a real Gt/CS ,but when i checked the trunk lid for the spring it popped right open so i bought it.I just seem to remember them saying it was unique to the gt/cs so not sure about it being on a convertible .
Sounds like the Cal Special guys are looking for "special" parts to me
My trunk pops open a couple of inches. Stock Mustang springs.
The convertible and coupe rear decks are a little larger and probably a little heavier.
I think they all use stock Mustang rear deck springs though? I don't know if the 2+2 is a different spring but I don't think so?
No special springs on trunk of Shelbys or CS cars. Fake news
Yea I emailed Paul Newitt here's his reply & I guess special to the Gt/CS & convertible Shelby
Quote from: Coralsnake on May 27, 2020, 07:22:21 AM
That's interesting because the Shelby decklid will open just fine, no special springs and it uses the same fiberglass?
I thought one of the Deck Lids, either the GT/CS or the Shelby Convertible had a Contour Line about 3/8 Inch up from the Edge and that was how you could tell which one it was. Am I remembering wrong?
Hmmm , thats good to know
You learn something new every day
So are you saying they repainted the trunks after they added the trunk lid? Every original car I've ever seen all the trunk hardware was the same color as the rest of the trunk. If they were replacing it with a special spring I don't think they would've taken the time to blend in the paint
MPC note.
Could be only the CS coupes?
76 is code for convertible. So reading into the MPC, they meant fiberglass deck lids.
Quote from: TLea on May 28, 2020, 02:17:03 PM
So are you saying they repainted the trunks after they added the trunk lid? Every original car I've ever seen all the trunk hardware was the same color as the rest of the trunk. If they were replacing it with a special spring I don't think they would've taken the time to blend in the paint
+1 Trunk lids were painted on the car with springs in place just like all the other coupes heading down the line (Calif Specials). Fair number of pictures of this detail from unrestored car plus an original paint car down in storage
Not surprised that the Ford didn't offer a service replacement spring for the application. Likely not enough demand to justify the cost of having a company make a run of them. Some would have been left over from production and put in the system till they ran out. Interesting that the (guessing) later MPC suggests that a coupe trunk spring would not work on a convertible the same year. Same for 65-66
If I recall correctly discussions a few years back suggested the difference was identified by a paint mark on the springs that was coated over when the trunk was painted at San Jose
What is written is not always what happened
Never seen a unique spring on a Shelby, but I could be mistaken.
Just sayin
QuoteNot sure why you would consider adding these to a car where you state they were not added only considered if I understand your post.
I was just thinking about it. Bill and I discussed many things to do to the car to make it more competitive. I had always thought it would help plant the rear a little better and from a personal level I like the look. Not the tail lights however. After reviewing the information it most likely would not have been legal because nothing was ever put through Ford to legalize the parts for A/S or T/A which if they had would have surely been on the team cars. Thanks to all who had input on this post. Good read.
Michael
For what's it worth my 68 California Special trunk does open very rapidly. It will scare the heck out of somebody not familiar with it. ;D
Deck Lid springs. I have the paper back GT/CS registry 1996 written by Paul M. newt. On page 87 under section E. it states "When the trunk lock is turned, the deck lid pops open quickly, with the use of a CS-only deck lid spring.".. That is all I can find, no part number.